Where to watch Six Nations 2026 rugby matches in Rome.
Italy will play two home games in the 2026 edition of the Six Nations rugby union championship, which kicks off on 4 February and ends on 14 March.
The Azzurri will take on Scotland on Saturday 7 February at 15.10 and England on Saturday 7 March at 17.40, with both matches will be played at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
Italy will also play three away games: against Ireland in Dublin on 14 February, against France in Paris on 22 February, and against Wales in Cardiff on 14 March.
In 2024 the Azzurri achieved their best ever result in the tournament, beating Scotland and Wales, and drawing with France, significantly changing the way the team is seen internationally.
However this momentum did not hold in 2025, with Italy winning just one match, at home to Wales (22–15), and losing every other game, including a very heavy home defeat to France, winners of the competition (24–73).
As rugby increases its audience among Italians there is greater demand to watch the games in bars in Rome, with a growing number of Italians joining foreigners to watch the annual championship contested by England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales.
Here are some of the best pubs in Rome to watch the Six Nations matches.
For the biggest screens, party atmosphere and commentary in English, it would be hard to beat Scholars Lounge just off the central Piazza Venezia – Rome’s largest Irish pub and past winner of the world’s Irish Pub of the Year. This Irish-owned bar features more than 20 screens, serves hot food throughout the day and has a high-energy vibe at night. Via del Plebiscito 101 B.
Italian rugby fans and tourists in the know cram into the rugby-mad The Shamrock tucked away on a side-street near the Colosseum, where a lively atmosphere is guaranteed. Many rugby players living in Rome congregate in this pub which can get a bit rowdy and is perfect for a younger crowd looking for a big night out. Via del Colosseo 1/c.
Opened in 1976, the Fiddler’s Elbow is the first Irish-owned pub in Italy and is located near the main Termini train station. It’s legendary among the older expat community and is popular for its traditional Irish music sessions. Rome residents and tourists mingle in this old-school pub which will celebrate its 50th anniversary later this year. Via dell’Olmata 43.
Around the corner from the Fiddler’s Elbow is the Druid’s Den, Rome’s third-oldest Irish pub, whose customers are generally a mix of Italian and foreign local residents. The pub has an authentic atmosphere and is less “touristy” than some of the other Irish bars in Rome. Via di San Martino ai Monti 28.
Finnegans, in the heart of the Monti quarter, also screens the Six Nations and attracts a large English-speaking crowd, mainly from the UK and Ireland. Sport is taken seriously in this Irish-owned pub which is conventiently located near the Cavour stop on the blue Metro B line. Via Leonina 66.
Other popular pubs showing the rugby games include the Abbey Theatre, a large Irish pub with a warren of small rooms near Piazza Navona (Via del Governo Vecchio 51), The Highlander, a Scottish pub in the historic centre (Vicolo di San Biagio 9), Trinity College, a trendy Irish-style bar just off Via del Corso (Via del Collegio Romano 6), and The Nag’s Head near Piazza Venezia (Via Quattro Novembre 138/b).
Pro Tips
Reservations: Most of these pubs do not take reservations for match days and operate on a “first come, first served” basis. For big games (especially Italy vs Scotland on 7 Feb or Italy vs England on 7 March), arrive at least 60–90 minutes early to secure a seat.
The Peroni Village: If you actually have tickets to a game at the Stadio Olimpico, don’t miss the “Third Half” at the Peroni Village outside the stadium. Even if you don’t have tickets, the atmosphere is electric on match days.
For full details about the Six Nations matches in Rome see the Federazione Italiana Rugby (FIR) website.
Photo credit: Photo credit: ErreRoberto / Shutterstock.com.
